Barcelona 1-0 Real Sociedad: Philippe Coutinho bags brilliant winner as Nou Camp pays tribute to Andres Iniesta in his final game for the club

  • Andres Iniesta brought the curtain down on his Barcelona career at the Nou Camp on Sunday evening  
  • The midfielder was greeted by a guard of honour prior to his team's final game of the season
  • Philippe Coutinho gave the home side the lead with a brilliant curling effort from just outside the box
  • Iniesta left to a standing ovation as he was replaced by Paco Alcacer in the closing stages of the game

Advertisement

It was a night for applause. Nearly all of it was for Andres Iniesta playing his last game for Barcelona. But there was also a moment midway through the second half when Iniesta himself stopped to applaud the man who must fill his shoes at the Camp Nou – Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazilian midfielder had just scored one of his specialty goals – cutting in from the left and bending a right foot shot from the edge of the area past the keeper on 57 minutes to win this game.

As the ball flashed past Miguel Angel Moya and went in off the post Iniesta looked on and applauded, before running across to Coutinho to congratulate him.  

Philippe Coutinho gives Barcelona the lead with a brilliant curling effort from just outside the box in the second half

Philippe Coutinho gives Barcelona the lead with a brilliant curling effort from just outside the box in the second half

The Brazilian pumps his fist after breaking the deadlock during his team's final game of the season on Sunday

The Brazilian pumps his fist after breaking the deadlock during his team's final game of the season on Sunday

Coutinho (right) is congratulated by Luis Suarez (left) and Gerard Pique (centre) after scoring the opening goal

Coutinho (right) is congratulated by Luis Suarez (left) and Gerard Pique (centre) after scoring the opening goal

Real Sociedad players pay tribute to  Andres Iniesta (left) with a guard of honour prior to Sunday night's game

Real Sociedad players pay tribute to Andres Iniesta (left) with a guard of honour prior to Sunday night's game

Iniesta (left) poses with Xabi Prieto (right) after being presented with pictures to mark his final Barcelona game

Iniesta (left) poses with Xabi Prieto (right) after being presented with pictures to mark his final Barcelona game

The 34-year-old (centre) was applauded by his team-mates as he made his way over to join them prior to kick-off

The 34-year-old (centre) was applauded by his team-mates as he made his way over to join them prior to kick-off

The goal had been scored from the left midfield berth that Iniesta has made his own during 674 official matches, during 459 victories, and in a career that has seen him lift 32 trophies including nine leagues and four Champions Leagues.


With his family watching from the directors’ box alongside Xavi Hernandez the pass master of so many of their great midfield performances together, he looked as effortlessly in control as for most of his previous 15 seasons.

When the teams were announced to the crowd it was no surprise to hear his name cheered the loudest and the Camp Nou mosaic spelled out ‘Infinite Iniesta’ as Barcelona players were given a guard of honour on to the pitch by Real Sociedad.

Not all the homages were choreographed: his name echoed around the stadium and there was another huge roar the first time he got a run on the ball and sprayed his first – and one of his last – passes across the Nou Camp green carpet. 

The entire stadium took the chance to show their appreciation toward Iniesta before the La Liga clash got underway 

The entire stadium took the chance to show their appreciation toward Iniesta before the La Liga clash got underway 

Iniesta looks on as the Barcelona supporters held up banners in recognition of his services to the Spanish club

Iniesta looks on as the Barcelona supporters held up banners in recognition of his services to the Spanish club

The game was inconsequential with the league won – and that much was clear as a huge banner reading ‘Thanks for so much’ was draped behind Marc Andre ter Stegen’s goal. The view cannot have been too great behind it but who cared? This game was all about Iniesta's last match and they were still singing his name as Barcelona took the game to Real Sociedad.

One dinked Iniesta pass to Nelson Semedo received another cheer, all that was missing was for Dembele to do something with it – he was caught between an shot and a pass.

Real Sociedad were also paying tribute to a club legend. Xabi Prieto had played for the club for 15 seasons and exchanged plaques with Iniesta before kick-off ahead of his last ever game.

His team could have taken the lead when former Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj tested Ter Stegen with a shot but Germany’s number one made the save. 

The Barca fans held up a banner displaying pictures of the Spanish midfielder throughout his footballing career

The Barca fans held up a banner displaying pictures of the Spanish midfielder throughout his footballing career

Iniesta of Barcelona competes for the ball with Aritz Elustondo of Real Sociedad during the first half at the Nou Camp

Iniesta of Barcelona competes for the ball with Aritz Elustondo of Real Sociedad during the first half at the Nou Camp

What the first half was missing was Lionel Messi. Surely Ernesto Valverde was not going to deny football a last chance to see Messi and Iniesta in tandem.

Dembele was a mix of the brilliant and the strangely awful. One cross went straight out of play with Suarez cursing the delivery. But he then sprinted clear onto a pass from Ivan Rakitic and was taken down savagely by Raul Navas who got nowhere near the ball and made such an impact on Dembele’s ankle that the yellow card seemed totally inadequate punishment.

Suarez talked his way into the book and kept complaining as the players walked off at the break.

Dembele only made it to 50 minutes before retiring to the bench where the ice-pack was waiting for his ankle.

Suarez (right) attempts to get past Sociedad defender Diego Llorente as his team looked to end their season on a high

Suarez (right) attempts to get past Sociedad defender Diego Llorente as his team looked to end their season on a high

Messi finally came on with 20 minutes left. But his time with Iniesta was short because the captain was taken off on 82 minutes – the stadium on its feet as one belting out his name and applauding.

It was a slow walk off the pitch that he will not have wanted to come to an end. There were embraces for team-mates Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and for Messi who he handed the armband to.

The only thing Iniesta's career has been missing is goals. Too busy gifting them to team-mates, he only scored 57. Coutinho already has 10 and he has only played half a season. Barcelona’s midfield is in good hands but nothing will ever be quite the same again.

Denis Suarez (centre) wastes a good chance to give the home side the lead as he screws his effort wide of the post

Denis Suarez (centre) wastes a good chance to give the home side the lead as he screws his effort wide of the post

Iniesta (right) hugs team-mate Lionel Messi (left) after being substituted in the closing stages of the La Liga clash

Iniesta (right) hugs team-mate Lionel Messi (left) after being substituted in the closing stages of the La Liga clash

Iniesta (centre) hugs Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde (left) after being replaced by Paco Alcacer in the 82nd minute

Iniesta (centre) hugs Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde (left) after being replaced by Paco Alcacer in the 82nd minute

Miguel Angel Moya reaches out to prevent Lionel Messi from doubling Barcelona's lead during the second half of the match

Miguel Angel Moya reaches out to prevent Lionel Messi from doubling Barcelona's lead during the second half of the match